To the Reviewers:
Sparx - What if we don't kill Noor? What if he haunts them for years to come? Hehehehehe, glad you are enjoying.
Trish - Hey Cube, I think she just called us twisted. LOL We probably are. I'm so amazed at what we can come up with Trish. Almost done though, only a few more chapters. *Runs from the ending*
Trish - Again? You must be catching up. *Looks at Cube* Now she thinks we need a psyche ward. We may have to be more evil Trish if you keep calling us names.
Trish again - Hehehehe, I'm seeing several Trish's. NOOOOOOOOO As to what he did, I don't think we say. Sorry, we might bring that up again later.
Karine - Of course they caught up. We are not completely without heart. *Looks at big gaping hole in chest* Hmmmmm, maybe we are. LOL
Chapter 18
Kaolith was stunned as she was led and pushed across the camp to the guards' tents. She sat, staring, as Aragorn paced, and waited for his father. He knew that the Lord had remained behind to speak to Selinde, but he wanted to know the extent of the Elf's injuries. Each time he reached the end of the 'room', he turned to look at the child in his midst. He simply did not know what to say to her this time.
Knowing that Strider could not fix the problem this time, Kaolith tried to wait patiently for Lord Elrond to make his way to the tent. She wanted his leave to return to Selinde if she were asleep, to wait by her bedside to apologize profusely when she awoke. Her stubbornness and spontaneity had gotten her into trouble once again, and she only wanted to set the record straight. If it meant that she was to sit by and do nothing without the she-Elf's permission, she would attempt to do so, until her patience ran out. *Damn it all, Selinde, you know me better than that. Of course I meant to thank you for what you tried to do for me, but can't you see that I was trying to do the same for you? I didn't want to see you hurt anymore than you did me. I didn't know who Noor was at the time, and once I knew, I wasn't going to abandon you to him.* She jumped when she saw Lord Elrond staring down at her. *Ok, he's way too quiet, even for an Elf.*
"Lord Elrond, sir, I would, with your leave…" she trailed off, sticking her tongue out the side of her mouth, trying to piece together the words to convince him.
"Give her another twenty minutes, Kao, to make sure that she is asleep, and then you can go to her. She will forgive you in time, little one, she's just…" he was cut off.
"I know; she's been through so much, and all that. I would go now if I could?"
"You will wait until I have seen to the back of your head, Kaolith, I know you are hiding that one well." He laughed as she glared at him good-naturedly.
"Fine." She tapped her feet and drummed her fingers on the bed, knowing that Elrond was taking his time on purpose. When he finally gave her leave, he and his sons laughed as she bolted off the bed, almost knocking two of them over.
Reaching the tent, a nervous knot settled in the pit of her stomach, one like she hadn't felt around Selinde since Strider had told her he was going to introduce her to an Elf. Selinde was the first Elf that she had not run from, and had still spent most of their first encounter peering around the Ranger's back, not sure whether to run and climb a tree or stay behind the human. She had decided that since he had told her Elves could climb trees very well that she would remain on the ground. If only she had run, she could have learned then, in safety, of the she-Elf's propensity to fall. Instead, the 12 year old had tried to remain brave, well as much as one could do with her head against Strider's back, and had eventually come to trust Selinde.
She stepped inside, making up her mind to utilize that bravery once more, and could immediately tell something was wrong. She caught sight of the hole, and hung her head. She knew where her sister had gone, and ran to follow, being stopped by a firm hand on her shoulder.
"Don't you run off too."
Kao looked up into the eyes of Gandalf.
"I must find her," she tried to impress on him.
"Yes," he responded, "but first we tell Lord Elrond."
So it was that they returned to the guards' tent. The all looked up when Kao entered with Mithrandir.
"Now what did you do Kao?" The twins said at the same time. She was about to give them a tongue lashing, when Gandalf stopped her.
"She did nothing, young Sons of Elrond. She only went looking for one who is no longer in the camp."
No more was needed as they all headed back to Noor's tent. They could see the hole cut into the fabric and Strider was just about to go out the back when Gandalf spoke again. "She took her horse, and her weapons. I believe we all know what her intentions are."
The words hung in the air.
"We must follow," Elrohir shouted.
"Yes," Elrond said. The weight of her serious injuries was weighing on his mind. "But we cannot do that until morning. Try to get some rest, we will start at daybreak." He was getting ready to go give Thranduil word as to what was happening, when he turned back around. "And I don't care which one of you does it," he said. "But one of you better sit on that child tonight. For I will not have her follow unaided."
************
Selinde rode quietly towards her destination. She didn't need tracks, for she well knew where Noor would go, and she was determined to kill him and be done with it. She was able to rest as the horse plodded through the rain, and suddenly realized that Lord Elrond had been right about the walnuts. She had not lost her sight or had those kinds of headaches since leaving Mirkwood.
************
Kaolith was sitting on 'her' bed, leaning back against the wall of the tent, staring at Elladan. He, on the other hand, was attempting not to laugh at her face and her predicament. It was late in the night, and he had just taken over the watch from Elrohir. During that time, the girl had attempted to escape no less than three times, and the younger twin had resorted to tying her ankles and wrists together. Unable to do anything else, the Ranger had proceeded to scream bloody murder until Elrond had come in with a piece of cloth and gagged her. Now she was sitting, mumbling into the cloth, and glaring at her captor.
"You brought this upon yourself little one, so you may as well get some sleep. We will leave early in the morning, I promise you that. We will find Selinde, and she will be all right." He watched as the anger left her face, replaced by guilt and sadness. She stared down at the ground, tears apparent, and Elladan couldn't help but be reminded of Estel when he was a small child. Moving to her side, he removed the gag before returning to his spot. "What's wrong Kao?"
"What if it's too late in the morning? What if he captured her and is…is…what if…"
"Shh, mellon nin, she is strong, she will be all right."
"But she doesn't want to see me. She said to leave her alone until I could 'control my impulses'. I try 'Dan, really, but I don't…I don't know I mean, I just can't sit by and watch someone get hurt, especially her." She looked up at the twin who was sitting across the room, relaxed and listening. Eyeing the tent flap, she continued on for a while, and when she thought there was an opening, she bolted, hopping towards the door.
"Oh no you don't!" Elladan jumped from the bed and tackled her, bringing her down to the ground harder than he had planned, but anxious to 'sit on her' as his father had instructed. At the sound of the commotion, Legolas, Aragorn, and Tanad had came running, and stopped short, one of them giggling, at the sight.
"'Dan, I don't think Ada meant for you to literally sit on her."
"Let me up! Let me go! Get off me! Move!..." she continued to yell as she found herself chewing on fabric again.
"I didn't have much choice, did I?" Elladan rolled off of her, and the four lifted her to the bed. "If you don't calm down, little one, I will find Ada and give you a sleeping draught that will put you out for three days! How well can you help Selinde if you are sleeping?" He watched as the glare planted itself on her face once more, and would have commented on it, if his father hadn't chosen that moment to yell for aid. Orcs had circled the camp.
With one look at the girl, the four ran out, leaving her in the 'safety' of the tent. The battle ensued outside, and she was sure that her friends were winning, until she looked up and saw an Orc standing in her room, scimitar raised, prepared to strike. She couldn't even cry out as she dove off the bed, the weapon missing her neck and embedding itself in her shoulder. As she shimmied under the bed, she didn't see the Orc lose its head to Tanad's dagger.
"Come on, Kao, let's go after Selinde!"
"Kao!" Tan called. He had seen her roll under the bed and just remembered the gag, so he went to help her out. He grabbed her feet and pulled her out, gasping when he saw her bloody shoulder. "Damn!" He said. "I'll be right back."
As Tan left the tent for help, Kao couldn't help but think that he could have untied her first. And if she hadn't been gagged, she would have told him to watch his mouth.
It was only moments before they were back and lifting her once again onto the bed. As they took the gag off and untied her, they were slapped by the torrent of words.
"I could have been killed." She glared them all. "If you ever leave me tied up again when Orcs are around, I will hurt each and every one of you." She paused for a moment then tried to push Elrond away from her shoulder. "Lets go. I'm ready to find Selinde."
"Not until I'm finished," Lord Elrond said. "The rest of you prepare the horses, Kao and I will join you in a minute."
As the others left, Kao knew there was a lecture coming. "Kao, please promise me that you will listen and not rush in, no matter what we find." The girl just stared back at him. "Kao, I will not hesitate to tie you up again. I cannot take you with us, if I'm having to keep you out of trouble." When Kao still just glared at him, Elrond exploded. "Fine Kao, this is your last chance, because if you do not agree to my terms, I will have a contingent of Mirkwood warriors take you back to the palace. Is that what you want?" Elrond waited as the emotions played across the young girl's face. It was so humorous, that he almost laughed.
"Fine, Lord Elrond. I agree to your terms. I will not even seek to relieve myself without your permission." She was not happy with the situation, but did not want to return to Mirkwood. She knew the Elf Lord well, and had no doubt he would carry out his threat.
"Fine Kao," he said. "Shall we go then?"
************
As the camp was being attacked by Orcs, Selinde was riding on to the village that she had spent many years of her life in. Her body was crying out to her for the abuses. She had not taken the time to heal from her injuries, but was thankful that they had been treated. She was so blinded by hatred for this one man, that she had become unaware of all else. She did not even care if she died, as long as Noor no longer took breath. So she rode on, making for Noor's stronghold.
************
The group of rescuers made it as far as the horses when the first argument broke out between human and Elf Lord.
"I can too ride a horse by myself. My back is fine. I don't need someone to make sure I don't fall off."
"Kao…"
"No, I can ride, and there are more than enough horses for us to take, and still leave some for Terach. No, don't give me the look, it won't work."
"Kaolith! You will do as I say. If we are going to catch up to Selinde, we need to ride hard, and your back can't take that without some one watching it. Besides, I don't want to stop to rest until the last minute, when the horses need it, and you will need to rest before then."
"Lord Elrond…"
"Kao, that's it. Decide! We don't have time to argue. You can either get on the horse with Legolas, or you can stay with Terach. He knows that you are to return to Mirkwood if he sees you after we leave, and he knows not to let you out of his sight until I tell him it's all right."
She stared at the Elf Lord, wanting more than anything to be able to ride on her own. She looked at Tanad, who was riding with Elrohir, and then, to her and Elrond's surprise, saw Aragorn mount up in front of Elladan.
"Kao, little one, we need to get on after Selinde. If it will make you feel better, I will ride with one of the 'superior' riders. Can we go now?"
Kaolith hung her head, and muttered softly, "you don't have to ride with 'Dan, I'll ride with Legolas."
"Oh don't sound like it's such torture little one, I'm offended by that." Legolas tried to lighten her mood and stuck his tongue out at her. It worked, and she started shaking with laughter. Unable to move without falling over, she simply stood, holding one hand over her mouth, and soon found herself lifted off her feet and placed in front of the Prince.
"Wait, there's no saddle?"
"Of course not little one, I don't need one." Legolas watched as a look of horror passed over the girl's face. "Don't worry, I won't let you fall."
Aragorn moved back to his own horse, but would ride with Elladan if he got tired before they were ready to stop. This was best, so that Elladan's horse didn't tire from the extra weight.
So it was that they parted with King Thranduil, who was taking the rest of the Elves who had been captured back to Mirkwood. Elrond and Gandalf would join the younger ones, figuring that they would need an excellent healer before this was all done.
They rode out after Selinde and within a couple days, stopping only to rest the horses, they were catching up with her. But would they get there in time?
************
Selinde arrived at the 'village' within half a day of Noor. She was surprised that it was more a town now then a village, and she was saddened to see Elven slaves.
*Why was it that these people couldn't do things for themselves?* she thought to herself. *Why did they need to enslave a race that needed the trees and the stars? Who needed to be with their own kind and celebrate all that the Valar had given them. This was no life for an Elf.*
Right then and there she vowed to free them all. If it meant her death, then so be it. And so she watched Noor for the next couple of days, trying to figure out his routine and being surprised that it really hadn't changed much.
